Talking machine



A. F. DURAND TALKING MACHINE Oct. 12 1926. v

Filed Sepji. 28, 1925 Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES v 1,602,524 Parent OFFICE.

ARTHUR F. DURAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Application filed. September 28, 1925. Serial No. 59,238. a;

This invention relates to talking machines of that kind in which the stylus or needle engages a spiral groove on the record, thereby to vibrate the diaphragm of the reproa ducer, and in which the reproducer is connected to an amplifier or resonator.

Generally stated, the object of the inven- Y tion is to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby the reproducer is rigid with the amplifier, thus obviating the necessity of a loose joint between the two, and whereby all relative movement necessary between the record and the stylus for the changing of records, for the operation of the reproducer, and for the substitution of a fresh needle or stylus for the used one, is provided by motion of the record itself, so that the reproducer and the rigid ampl fier may be solidly supported in stationary position, thus avoiding the use of a loose joint or a shifting reproducer.

To these and other useful ends, the in vention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a talking machine embodying the principles of the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary de' tailview,

Figure 3 is: an enlarged sectional view showing certain details of construction,

Figure 4 shows another form of the invention. a

As thus illustrated, the invention com prises a body 1 having a stationary amplifier or resonator 2 therein, and a reproducer 3 rigid with said amplifier. Said amplifier h'asan upstanding stylus 4E, and the construction of said reproducer may, of course, be of any. suitable or known or approved character. With this arrangement, the reproducer is solidly supported and whatever relative motion is necessary between the stylus and record 5, except the vibration of the stylus or needle, must be provided by pressure exerted by and through the record itself. Also, any pressure necessary to maintain the stylus in work ng engagement with 0 the spiral groove on the record must be provided by the record, as the stylus can exert no positive pressure upward. Means are provided, therefore, whereby all relative movement necessary between the stylus and record to permit insertion and removal of the record, to operate the reproducer, and to records,

shown, the reproducer is adapted for use TALKING MACHINE.

permit the upper end of the stylus to fol low the spiral groove, is provided by suitable motion of the record itself. The stylus or needle, of course, must be renewed from time to time, and for this purpose also the record is movable out of its operating plane and away from the st lus. Any suitable means can be employed or this Purpose.

As shown, therefore, the turntable 6 is mounted on an arm 7 which swingsup and over to the position shown in Figure 1, to receive the record rightside up thereon, and which swings sidewise to permit the record to gradually shift in the plane thereof while rotating, so that the stylus can follow the spiral groove. In other words, the disk floats freely on the rotating stylus, and is pressed by gravity against the upper end of the stylus. Said hollow arm 7 has a ball and socket joint 8 which connects it with the upper end of the hollow post 9, which latter permits said joint and arm to swing about a vertical axis formed by the vertical shaft 10 which has a bevel gear connection 11 and 12 with the shaft 13 that extends through said hollow arm. .The turntable post 14 is also connected by bevels 15 and 16 with said shaft 13, so that rotation of the shaft 10 by the usual motor (not shown) serves to rotate the disk record upside down on the upstanding stylus of'the stationary reproducer. The construction of the joint 8 .perniits the arm to be moved up and over into the position shown in Figure 1, and at such time the bevel 12 is out of engagement with the bevel 11, but the two bevels re-engage when the arm is swung over into operative position. A nut 17, screwed upon the post 14, clamps the record on the turntable 6, and the weight of the turntable and arm causes therecord to bear with the proper degree of pressure against the stylus, the weight of the parts being predetermined for this purpose. The arm 7 swings gradually side-- wise as the stylus traverses the spiral groove. It will be understood that the reproducer may be positioned for either hill-anddale or for lateral-cut records. As

with lateral-cut records.

Thus the reproducer is not only rigid with the amplifier, but is stationary and solidly supported in any suitable manner which will ensure the desired results. This avoids the use of a loose joint between the reproducer and amplifier, and obviates the necessity of shifting the entire reproducer and amplifier. The reproducer, moreover, can be of any desired size or weight, as it 153 not supported on the record, and does not shift around.

As shown in Figure l, the turntable and record are driven by a small electric motor 18 on the swinging arm 19, which latter swings up and down and sidewise, like the arm 7 previously described, whereby in either case the record is self-feeding by reason of the freedom of movement which it has while rotating, the spiral groove in engagement with the needle or stylus constituting the means for feeding the disk record in the plane thereof. Said motor 18, of course, is properly geared to drive the record at the desired speed, and is also properly governed, in any known manner, to ensure a uniform speed for the record. The current is supplied to said motor 18 in any suitable or desired manner. In this case, also, the weight of the motor 18 and the arm 19 and the turntable should be sufficient to exert the right pressure to keep the stylus in the spiral groove.

Thus, with the embodiments of the invention shown and described, which are illustrative of the invention, the record has all of the movement which is necessary for the changing of records, the changing of needles, the actuation oi the needle, and the graiilual feeding of the needle across the record, and the only n'iovement or motion which the stylus or needle has is its vibration to actuate the diaphragm of the reproducer, whereby the principal object of the invention is accomplished, to wit: the provision of an amplifier, which, although rigid with the reproducer, is supported in stationary position.

The record preferably floats freely enough. to rise and fall a little, or to whatever extent is necessary, while rotating on the needle, but the parts may be so constructed that the downward motion of the record is limited to keep it from dropping down too low. Obviously, the record will operate in the required manner if it be free to fall the fraction of an inch below the proper position of the point of the stylus or needle.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a talking machine, the combination of a record having a spiral groove, a re producer having a stylus to engage said groove, an amplifier rigid with said reproducer. means to support said rigidly connected reproducer and amplifier in stationary position, so that the stylus is stationary except for its vibration by said groove, and supporting and operating instrumentalities whereby all relative movement necessary between the record and stylus for the insertion and removal of the record and for the actuation of the stylus is provided entirely by motion of the record and whereby any pressure necessary to maintain the stylus 111 working engagement with said groove is exerted by and througl said record upon the stylus.

2. In a talking machine, the combination of a reproducer having a stylus, a record having a spiral groove for said stylus, supporting instrumentalities and whereby all relative movement necessary between the record and stylus for the insertion and removal of the record is provided entirely by motion of the record itself, and means to rotate said record after being moved into engagement with the stylus.

3. In a talking machine, the combination of a reproducer having a stylus, a record having a spiral groove for said stylus, supporting iustrumentalities whereby any pressure necessary to maintain the stylus in working engagement with said groove is exerted by and through said record itself, and means to operate the record while thus pressed against the stylus.

t. In a talking machine, a reproducer having an upstanding stylus, a record having a spiral groove for said stylus, a'turntable for said record, instrumentalities whereby said turntable is movable into position to receive the record with the grooved side thereof facing upward and is then movable into position to reverse the record and present said grooved side downward to said stylus, and means for driving said turntable.

5. A. structure as specified in claim 41, in which said reproducer is stationary, and in which said instrumentalities have provisions for permitting said record to shift gradually while rotating to permit said stylus to follow said groove.

6. A structure as specified in claim 4, in combination with an amplifier rigid with said reproducer, and means whereby the amplifier and record have relative movement to permit the stylus to follow the groove.

7. A structure as specified in claim 4, in combination with a stationary amplifier rigid with said reproducer, so that said reproducer is held against movement in any direction, and means whereby the record has movement to permit the stylus to follow the groove.

8. A structure as specified in claim 4, and supporting means whereby said stylus is stationary and supports the record in operative position, said driving means including a stationary motor and means on said instrumentalities to connect the motor to the rec- 0rd.

9. In a talking machine, the combination of a reproducer having an upstanding stylus a record having a spiral groove for said stylus, a turntable for operating the record with the grooved side thereof downward on said stylus, means whereby the turntable is movable to permit insertion and removal of the record, anamplifier rigid with said reproducer, s0 that said reproducer has no independent movement, and means to operate said turntable.

10. A structure as specified in claim 9, in combination with means whereby the turntable shifts gradually while rotating to permit said stylus to follow said groove.

11. A structure as specified in claim 9, in combination with means whereby all relative movement necessary between the record and stylus for the insertion and removal of the stylus and for the actuation thereof is provided entirely by motion of the record it self.

12. A structure as specified in claim 9 in combination with means whereby any pressure necessary to maintain the'stylus in working engagement with said groove is exerted by and through said record itself and whereby the record is movable to permit said stylus to follow the groove.

13. In a talking machine, the combination of a reproducer provided with a stylus, a record for insertion in the machine and which has a spiral groove for engagement with the stylus, means for movably supportstylus have relative movement to enable the stylus to follow said groove, and means to rotate the record.

14. A structure as specified in claim 13, said reproducer, being below the record which is movable as stated in the plane of rotation thereof to permit said relative movement.

15. In a talking machine, the combination of a reproducer having a removable stylus or needle, a record disposed. upside down to engage said stylus, instrumentalities for movably supporting the record for movement into and out of engagement with said stylus by motion serving to obviate the necessity of any movement of the reproducer for the insertion or removal of either the needle or the record, and means to drive the record after being moved entirely into engagement with the stylus.

Specification signed this 26th day of Sept. 1925.

ARTHUR F. DURAND 

